(WSDOT aerial of slide zone, via Flickr)
Here in West Seattle, 65 miles away from the agonizing search of the slide zone in and around the Snohomish County town of Oso – 25 dead, 90 missing – you might wonder what you can do to help.

Here’s one answer, hatched overnight on social media by one of West Seattle’s most-prolific fundraisers, Tracy Dart: This Sunday, support West Seattle for Oso, WS4OSO for short. Local businesses are jumping in to offer various ways you can help by shopping at their stores and/or dining/drinking at their restaurants/lounges; volunteers will be circulating in neighborhoods including The Junction to collect money; and other ideas are percolating. Best thing you can do right now is “like” the Facebook page that Tracy set up early today: facebook.com/ws4oso – or at least go there to see who’s participating so far (full list to come before Sunday). If you use Twitter, follow the hashtag #WS4OSO. If you are not much for social media, no worries, we’ve pledged to publish updates here. More to come!

ADDED 12:06 PM: Minutes after we published this, the first official news release arrived, including an early list of participants, and how to reach Tracy if you would like to join in:

In an effort to help the city of Oso, WA, after last weekend’s devestating mudslide, the West Seattle community has joined together to raise funds for our neighbors to the north. On Sunday, March 30th, more than 20 businesses (and counting) in the West Seattle area will be donating a percentage of their sales to the relief efforts in Oso.

As a small community that prides itself in taking care of our neighbors and neighborhoods, we can only imagine the anguish and heartbreak that the town of Oso is feeling at this time. West Seattle businesses will be joined by grass-roots efforts, including volunteers at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market collecting donations, bake sales, etc, on Sunday to raise funds for Oso.

All donations will go to the Red Cross and the United Way Recovery Fund, to directly benefit the ongoing clean up and recovery efforts, as well as helping rebuild this community.

Firefly Cafe & Creperie is also on the list of participating businesses. We will match dollar for dollar (up to $200). There will be a donation jar as well as ability to add your donation to your ticket. GO WEST SEATTLE!

The West Seattle Eagles is holding a dinner Sat Night for the cause. Chicken fried Steak Real mashed potatoes, corn & desert for $9. Also we made 200 jello shooters to sell. Hopefully we will have live music donated. Open to the public~~ 5:30 to 7 or dinner

CAPERS is participating in the #WS4OSO event on Sunday. In addition to donating a percentage of sales we have a Wishing Tree. You can come in and write a Wish for Oso to hang on the tree and leave a donation if you would like.